Institute of Resource Assessment
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Browsing Institute of Resource Assessment by Author "Achola, Pius"
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Item Adaptation to Climate Change - Induced Malaria and Cholera in the Lake Victoria Region(2007) Yanda, Pius Z.; Wandiga, Shem O.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Opondo, Maggie; Olago, Daniel; Githeko, Andrew; Githui, Faith; Marshall, Michael; Downs, Tim; Opere, A.; Kirumira, Edward; Kathuri, James; Apindi, Eugene; Olaka, Lydia; Olago, L.; Mugambi, Paul; Sigalla, Rehema; Kambuli, R.; Nanyunja, Robinah; Baguma, Timothy; Achola, PiusItem Adaptation to Climate Change/VariabilityInduced Highland Malaria and Cholera in the Lake Victoria Region(AIACC, 2006) Yanda, Pius Z.; Wandiga, Shem O.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Opondo, Maggie; Olago, Dan; Githeko, Andrew; Downs, Tim; Kabumbuli, Robert; Opere, A.; Githui, Faith; Kathuri, James; Olaka, Lydia; Apindi, Eugene; Marshall, Michael; Ogallo, L.; Mugambi, Paul; Kirumira, Edward; Nanyunja, Robinah; Baguma, Timothy; Sigalla, Rehema; Achola, PiusGlobal climate change and its interactive components, such as water availability, related vulnerability of natural and socio-economic systems and health, changes in land use, as well as availability, quality, quantity of water and related policies, affects human wellbeing. The apparent correlation between disease outbreaks, such as malaria, cholera, rift valley fever, and meningitis—all of which are sensitive to climate variability (McCarthy et al., 2001)—and the strong El Niño years, e.g., 1982–1983 and the 1997–1998 events indicates a causal link between climate and health. Integrated climate-disease models show that rates of infections can be affected by climatic anomalies.Item Climatic, socio-economic, and health factors affecting human vulnerability to cholera in the Lake Victoria basin, East Africa(Springer, 2007-03) Olago, Daniel; Marshall, Michael; Wandiga, Shem O.; Opondo, Maggie; Yanda, Pius Z.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Githeko, Andrew; Downs, Tim; Opere, A.; Kabumbuli, Robert; Kirumira, Edward; Ogallo, L.; Mugambi, Paul; Apindi, Eugene; Githui, Faith; Kathuri, James; Olaka, Lydia; Sigalla, Rehema; Nanyunja, Robinah; Baguma, Timothy; Achola, PiusCholera epidemics have a recorded history in the eastern Africa region dating to 1836. Cholera is now endemic in the Lake Victoria basin, a region with one of the poorest and fastest growing populations in the world. Analyses of precipitation, temperatures, and hydrological characteristics of selected stations in the Lake Victoria basin show that cholera epidemics are closely associated with El Niño years. Similarly, sustained temperatures high above normal (Tmax) in two consecutive seasons, followed by a slight cooling in the second season, trigger an outbreak of a cholera epidemic. The health and socioeconomic systems that the lake basin communities rely upon are not robust enough to cope with cholera outbreaks, thus rendering them vulnerable to the impact of climate variability and change. Collectively, this report argues that communities living around the Lake Victoria basin are vulnerable to climate-induced cholera that is aggravated by the low socioeconomic status and lack of an adequate health care system. In assessing the communities' adaptive capacity, the report concludes that persistent levels of poverty have made these communities vulnerable to cholera epidemics.Item Vulnerability to climate induced highland malaria in East Africa(2007) Wandiga, Shem O.; Olago, Daniel; Githeko, Andrew; Githui, Faith; Marshall, Michael; Downs, Tim; Opere, A.; Yanda, Pius Z.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Kambuli, R.; Kathuri, James; Apindi, Eugene; Kirumira, Edward; Opondo, Maggie; Olaka, Lydia; Ogallo, L.; Mugambi, Paul; Sigalla, Rehema; Nanyunja, Robinah; Baguma, Timothy; Achola, PiusIn tropical and subtropical countries, malaria continues as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Out of the 1 million annual malaria deaths, approximately 90 percent occur in Africa and nearly three-quarters of these are children under the age of five (WHO, 1996; McMichael et al., 1996;), making it one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children. In Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania malaria is endemic in most regions, accounting for one-third or more of outpatient morbidity in the population. In 2002 and 2003, there were 5.7 and 7.1 million cases of malaria in Uganda, resulting in 6,735 and 8,500 deaths, respectively. Whereas, in Tanzania, malaria causes between 70,000 and 125,000 deaths annually, accounting for 19 percent of the health expenditure (De Savigny et al., 2004). Recent increased frequency of malaria in the highlands is a matter of serious concernItem Vulnerability to epidemic malaria in the highlands of Lake Victoria basin: the role of climate change/variability, hydrology and socio-economic factors(Springer, 2007) Wandiga, Shem O.; Opondo, Maggie; Olago, Daniel; Githeko, Andrew; Githui, Faith; Marshall, Michael; Downs, Tim; Opere, A.; Oludhe, Christopher; Yanda, Pius Z.; Achola, PiusEndemic malaria in most of the hot and humid African climates is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In the last twenty or so years the incidence of malaria has been aggravated by the resurgence of highland malaria epidemics which hitherto had been rare. A close association between malaria epidemics and climate variability has been reported but not universally accepted. Similarly, the relationship between climate variability, intensity of disease mortality and morbidity coupled with socio-economic factors has been mooted. Analyses of past climate (temperature and precipitation), hydrological and health data (1961–2001), and socio-economics status of communities from the East African highlands confirm the link between climate variability and the incidence and severity of malaria epidemics. The communities in the highlands that have had less exposure to malaria are more vulnerable than their counterparts in the lowlands due to lack of clinical immunity. However, the vulnerability of human health to climate variability is influenced by the coping and adaptive capacities of an individual or community. Surveys conducted among three communities in the East African highlands reveal that the interplay of poverty and other socio-economic variables have intensified the vulnerability of these communities to the impacts of malaria.